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Acculturation gap

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The acculturation gap is the changing set of values and culture between a child and parent/guardian. This is seen especially after immigration from one country to another and assimilation into another culture. After immigration, a child generally adapts into the new culture fairly quickly. The child usually begins to interact with more people from this new culture than the culture of the country they emigrated from; Children attending school plays a role in this quick shift in values and attitude. The acculturation gap-distress hypothesis states that because the parent and child acculturate at different rates, the acculturation gap exists. Because the parents have spent more time embracing their own culture and heritage, it takes more time for them to acculturate. Acculturation occurs when one adapts into a new culture and learns the new language, values, and traditions of the new culture. When children acculturate, if their parents haven’t switched their views and ideologies as well, children report less family pride and view their parents as controlling.[1] This shift in values gap between child and parent is linked to conflict between parent and child.[2]

Conflict

An issue that the acculturation gap causes within family conflict is language. The parent is likely to continue using their native language more than the widespread language of their new environment. Depending on the age of the child during immigration, it is more likely that the child will assume the new environment's primary language as his or her own, unlike the parent.[3]

If a child never grew up learning their home language, it brings about even greater conflict. This conflict in language understanding can make it difficult for parent and children to discuss deep topics with one another.[4] When parents have to rely on their child to translate English into their native language, it complicates things as traditional parental roles are reversed. In these situations, parents must rely on their child for interactions. This reversal may affect the child-parent relationship.[5]

Acculturation Gap-Distress Hypothesis

The acculturation gap causes distress among parents and their children. When parents acculturate at a slower rate than their parents, they can come to grow apart and not feel as connected as before. In addition, parents could prevent the child from participating in activities a part of the new culture which could lead the child to want to acculturate even further.[6] Studies found that this increased occurrence in family conflict leads to more tense families that do not bond as deeply as others may. In addition, it is likely that these children act out behaviorally or academically.[7]

One study with Mexican-American families found that intergenerational acculturation was unrelated to youth behavioral issues and family conflict as other studies suggested; disproving the acculturation gap-distress hypothesis. It found that when the parent was more acculturated, the child struggled with aggression and being antisocial. The study also found that when the parent or child was neither acculturated to the American or traditional culture, conduct problems posed as a greater risk to the child.[6]

Cultural Dissonance

Immigrants also sometimes face cultural dissonance when moving from one place to another. They may be countered with prejudice from the locals that feel their home has been infiltrated. This leads to the immigrant feeling uncomfortable in the new environment which can potentially lead to conflict.[8]

Studies have found that an immigrant child’s exposure to discrimination and negative stereotypes while acculturating has also impacted family conflict back at home due to the child's lost, traditional cultural values.[9]

East Asian-American Study findings

There are many studies that evaluate the acculturation gap and whether or not it has such detrimental effects. Studies exist that ask children and parents about their beliefs of their own or each other’s acculturation - they then compare the gaps. Some studies showed that parents were more attached to their heritage culture while others showed that the children were more attached than their parents. Based on this, acculturation gaps may not always come in the same form as predicted.[7]

Studies also reflect that many struggle with adjusting culturally. Studies exhibit links between cultural dissonance and depression of Chinese-American children. Furthermore, adolescents not knowing the Chinese language as well as they’d like is linked to depression of Chinese-Canadian and Chinese-American children. Higher conflict than normal is also shown in Indian-American, former Soviet-American, and Vietnamese-American families where the acculturation gap exists.[7]

Researchers found that the acculturation gap between East Asian-American generations is negatively correlated with parent-youth relationships. This disconnection leads to different mental health problems among the youth.[10]

Mexican-American Study Findings

In Southwest America, there are many children with Mexican ancestry. Because of the acculturation gap hypothesis, studies were conducted to see how these children’s home/parental values have clashed with the values of their peers at school. Studies have shown that higher levels of acculturation correlate with delinquency. The existence of the gap can increase the likelihood of these children participating in deviant behaviors.[11]

Studies with Mexican-American youth and parents also reflect similar data that remains inconclusive. It is also noted that in Southwest USA, the Mexican culture is prevalent and the close proximity from Mexico to these states may play a role in the study results as well.[11]

Much research hasn't been done to see the impact of the acculturation gap on parents compared to adolescents. However, one study has found that Hispanic adults that have low acculturation rates may be linked to an increased risk of poor low-density lipoprotein cholesterol control.[12]

Confounding Variables in Studies

Confounding variables (such as income and stability) do exist when evaluating the connection between the acculturation gap and family conflict. Therefore, the acculturation gap hypothesis needs to be tested more in the future to find answers.[13]

Furthermore, migration and work also add to family stresses. Immigrants parents in the United States typically have longer work days and are away from their children more. These details must be addressed further in future studies.[14]

Future Acculturation Gap Research

Understanding the acculturation gap is important as the minority population in the United States of America is continuing to grow.[9] Further research regarding the connection of acculturation gaps and family conflict would allow for future methods of prevention and treatment of those affected.[6]

References

  1. ^ Marsiglia, Flavio F.; Kulis, Stephen; FitzHarris, Blythe; Becerra, David (May 2009). "Acculturation Gaps and Problem Behaviors among U.S. Southwestern Mexican Youth". Social work forum (New York, N.Y.). 42–43: 6–26. ISSN 1536-691X. PMC 3719159. PMID 23888125.
  2. ^ "Immigration | Intergenerational Differences in Acculturation | Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development". Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  3. ^ "Immigration | Intergenerational Differences in Acculturation | Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development". Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  4. ^ "Immigration | Intergenerational Differences in Acculturation | Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development". Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  5. ^ Marsiglia, Flavio F.; Kulis, Stephen; FitzHarris, Blythe; Becerra, David (May 2009). "Acculturation Gaps and Problem Behaviors among U.S. Southwestern Mexican Youth". Social work forum (New York, N.Y.). 42–43: 6–26. ISSN 1536-691X. PMC 3719159. PMID 23888125.
  6. ^ a b c Lau, Anna (2005). "The Acculturation Gap-Distress Hypothesis Among High-Risk Mexican American Families" (PDF). Journal of Family Psychology. 19: 367–375 – via UCLA. {{cite journal}}: line feed character in |title= at position 58 (help)
  7. ^ a b c "Immigration | Intergenerational Differences in Acculturation | Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development". Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  8. ^ Hart, Caroline Sarojini; Sriprakash, Arathi (2018-01-02). "Understanding cultural dissonance and the development of social identities". International Studies in Sociology of Education. 27 (1): 1–3. doi:10.1080/09620214.2018.1427194. ISSN 0962-0214.
  9. ^ a b Gonzales, Nancy (2006). ""Family Mediators of the Relation Between Acculturation and Adolescent Mental Health."". https://www-jstor-org.ezproxy.neu.edu/stable/pdf/40005316.pdf?refreqid=search%3A5360a48a232b6feb0a545c7f7f580e3c. 55: 318–330 – via JSTOR. {{cite journal}}: External link in |journal= (help)
  10. ^ Cheung, Christopher W.; Jahn, Stephani A. B. (April 2017). "Closing the Acculturation Gap". The Family Journal. 25 (2): 170–178. doi:10.1177/1066480717697686. ISSN 1066-4807.
  11. ^ a b Marsiglia, Flavio F.; Kulis, Stephen; FitzHarris, Blythe; Becerra, David (May 2009). "Acculturation Gaps and Problem Behaviors among U.S. Southwestern Mexican Youth". Social work forum (New York, N.Y.). 42–43: 6–26. ISSN 1536-691X. PMC 3719159. PMID 23888125.
  12. ^ Eamranond, Pracha (2009). ""Acculturation and Cardiovascular Risk Factor Control Among Hispanic Adults in the United States."" (PDF). Public Health Reports. 124: 818–824 – via JSTOR.
  13. ^ "Immigration | Intergenerational Differences in Acculturation | Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development". Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  14. ^ Marsiglia, Flavio F.; Kulis, Stephen; FitzHarris, Blythe; Becerra, David (May 2009). "Acculturation Gaps and Problem Behaviors among U.S. Southwestern Mexican Youth". Social work forum (New York, N.Y.). 42–43: 6–26. ISSN 1536-691X. PMC 3719159. PMID 23888125.
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